Maintaining a frame rate in a digital imaging system

Abstract

A method for communicating between a camera and a computer includes determining whether it is possible to transmit data at a requested resolution and a requested frame rate. If not, the data is transmitted at an adjusted reduced resolution (a reduced resolution, for example).

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for communicating between a camera and a computer, comprising: 
 determining whether it is possible to transmit data at a requested resolution and a requested frame rate; and    if not, transmitting the data at an adjusted resolution.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusted resolution comprises a decreased resolution.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the data at the requested frame rate.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of determining comprises determining an available bandwidth for communications between the camera and the computer.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the act of determining comprises periodically evaluating the available bandwidth.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of determining comprises testing for available packet sizes for transmitting the data.  
     
     
         7 . An article comprising a processor readable storage medium including instructions that cause a processor to: 
 determine whether it is possible transmit data between a camera and a computer at a requested resolution and a requested frame rate; and    if not, interact with the camera to transmit the data at an adjusted resolution.    
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the adjusted resolution comprises a decreased resolution.  
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions to determine comprise instructions to cause the processor to transmit the data at the requested frame rate.  
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions to determine comprise instructions to cause the processor to determine a usable bandwidth for communications between the computer and the camera.  
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the instructions to determine comprise instructions to cause the processor to periodically evaluate the available bandwidth.  
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein the instructions to determine comprise instructions to cause the processor to test for available packet sizes to transmit the data.  
     
     
         13 . A computer system comprising: 
 a communication link;    a camera to communicate image data to the communication link; and    a computer to: 
 receive the image data from the communication link,  
 determine whether it is possible to transmit the data at a requested resolution and frame rate, and  
 if not, interact with the camera to transmit the data at an adjusted resolution.  
   
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the adjusted resolution comprises a decreased resolution.  
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the determination includes determining a usable bandwidth for transmissions between the camera and the computer.  
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the determination of the usable bandwidth comprises testing for available packet sizes for transmitting the data.  
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer further interacts with the computer to transmit the data at the requested frame rate.  
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer further interacts with the camera to transmit the data at the requested resolution if it is possible to transmit the data at the requested resolution and the requested frame rate.